Window well cover assembly

ABSTRACT

A window well cover is securely fastened to close a window well from outside the window well but which is easily unlatched from the inside of the window well for exit from the window and out of the window well. The cover includes a panel hinged to a base bracket and a fixing assembly. The panel is sized to substantially cover an open top end of the window well and has a first end edge and a second end edge, and opposite side edges. The fixing assembly is mounted to the base bracket adjacent to the first end edge. The fixing assembly comprises a first bracing bracket mounted to the base bracket adjacent one of the side edges and a second bracing bracket mounted to the base bracket adjacent the opposite side edge. Pressing portions are extendable outwardly from the bracing brackets to press against an inside of the window well to releasably lock the panel to the window well. A third bracing bracket can be provided secured to the panel adjacent to the second end edge of the panel, the third bracing bracket comprising a hand actuated pressing portion selectively extendable from the third bracing bracket to engage the window well.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to window well covers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Homes, apartment buildings and other buildings sometimes include a below grade basement having basement walls which form part of the building foundation. In order to allow sunlight into the basement, the basement walls can be provided with windows through the basement walls. The windows are typically inward swinging-pane casement type windows. In order to allow light to these windows, a window well is provided adjacent to an outside of the basement wall. These window wells are typically semicircular in shape and are constructed of concrete, brick or metal. The window well includes an open top that allows light down to the casement window.

It is known to provide a transparent or translucent cover placed over the open top of the window well to allow light to reach the basement window and to prevent debris, water, humans or animals from falling or entering directly into the window well.

It is also known to provide a window well cover that latches from the inside to prevent undesired opening or removal of the window and entry from the outside into the window well.

Is also known that when a basement area is used as a living space, such as a bedroom, a window well can be used as an emergency exit. In such a use, means of moving or opening the window well cover from inside the basement, through the casement window, must be provided to facilitate escape from the basement.

Prior known window well cover latching mechanisms required the drilling through the window well to install mounting hardware.

The present inventor has recognized that such prior known window well covers are not easily installed by a homeowner, especially when retrofitting the window well with a new window well cover. For homes that use metal window wells, holes must be drilled through the metal window well and the fill on the outside of the window well must be excavated to finish the connection of the hardware.

The present inventor has recognized that it would be desirable to provide a window well cover assembly that was easily installed when retrofitting by a building owner without the need to drill through the metal window well or excavate outside of the window well.

The present inventor has recognized the desirability of providing a window well cover that securely latched the cover onto the window well but was easily unlatched from the inside to allow egress from the basement window through the window well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a window well cover that is securely fastened to close a window well from outside the window well but which is easily unlatched from the inside of the window well for exit from the basement window and out of the window well. The invention provides a window well cover that is easily retrofitted to a window well without the need for drilling through the window well to install fasteners, or to excavate outside of the window well for installing the fasteners. The invention provides a base bracket that is hingedly secured to the panel that allows for ease of pivoting of the panel without interference with the building wall.

The invention provides a cover that includes a panel and a fixing assembly. The panel is sized to substantially cover an open top end of the window well and has a first end edge and a second end edge, and opposite side edges. The fixing assembly is mounted to the panel adjacent to the first end edge. The fixing assembly comprises a first bracing bracket mounted to the panel adjacent one of the side edges and a second bracing bracket mounted to the panel adjacent the opposite side edge. A first pressing portion is extendable from one of the bracing brackets. The pressing portion is selectively extendable from the bracing bracket to press against an inside of the window well to releasably lock the panel to the window well. A second pressing portion extends from the other bracing bracket to also press against the window well. Preferably, the second pressing member is also selectively extendable.

Preferably, the fixing assembly includes a base bracket and a hinge. The hinge is secured to the panel, the base bracket hingedly secured to the hinge, the bracing bracket secured to the base bracket.

A third bracing bracket can be provided secured to the panel adjacent to the first edge of the panel, the bracing bracket comprising a pressing member selectively extendable from the third bracing bracket to engage the window well. Preferably the cover includes a support bracket extending from adjacent the first edge to adjacent the second edge, and the third bracing bracket is mounted on the support bracket.

According to the preferred embodiment, the window well cover includes a base bracket that carries bracing elements on opposite ends. At least one, and preferably both, of the bracing elements are adjustable in outward extension. The bracing elements are retractable in order for the base bracket to be fit inside the top open end of the window well from the outside, and at least one is extendable to brace against the inside surface of the window well.

Preferably, the bracing elements comprise L-shaped bracing brackets that include threaded holes, and threaded rods or bolts threaded into the threaded holes. The rods or bolts are extendable and retractable depending on the selected turning of the rods or bolts inside the threaded holes.

The bracing brackets are fastened to the base bracket. Preferably, the bracing brackets are adjustably mounted to the base bracket for gross adjustment, whereas the threaded bolts or rods are turned for a final adjustment and engagement.

Preferably, a third L-shaped bracing bracket is provided adjacent a front edge of the panel. The third bracing bracket is configured to latch the front of the panel to the window well by providing a third extendable element to brace against the inside surface of the window well below the panel. Preferably, the bracing bracket is adjustably mounted to the panel for gross adjustment whereas the third extendable element is adjustable for final adjustment and engagement.

The third extendable element preferably includes a hand-turnable knob to latch and unlatch the element to the window well. The knob allows for quick unlatching of the cover from inside the window well without need for a tool for use of the window well as an emergency exit from the basement window.

One advantage of the present invention is that the base bracket is L-shaped and includes an upstanding leg and a horizontal leg. The upstanding leg spaces the panel edge from the building wall and the horizontal leg supports the hinges. The panel is pivotable upward from the horizontal leg toward the upright leg when the panel is pivoted from a closed position to an open position. In this way, the panel can be easily pivoted upward without interference with the adjacent building wall.

Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will be become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, and from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, top perspective view of a window well cover assembly mounted onto a window well according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the window well cover assembly shown in FIG. 1 mounted on the window well;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken from FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6A is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 6A-6A of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a window well assembly 10 arranged to be mounted to a window well 14 of a building 16, the window well located against a basement wall 18 of the building 16.

The basement wall 18 includes a window 20, typically a casement window. The window well 14 includes a semi-circular, in horizontal cross-section, corrugated sidewall 19. The corrugated sidewall can be attached to or pressed to the basement wall 18. The window well sidewall 19 can also be comprised of concrete, bricks, un-corrugated metal, or other materials and configurations.

The cover assembly 10 includes a transparent or translucent panel 30 having a semicircular shape and sized to be slightly larger than a top open end 14 a of the window well 14. The panel 30 includes a first edge 30 a, and a second edge 30 b that includes side edge portions 30 c, 30 d. The panel is preferably semicircular, but other shapes are incorporated by the invention as well, such as rectangular. A base bracket 38 is connected to the panel 30 via hinges 42, 44. Although two hinges are shown, any number of hinges is encompassed by the invention such as one or three or more hinges. Three or more hinges spaced apart hinges can be particularly advantageous to increase rigidity of the panel for opening and closing the panel.

A center support 46 and two side supports 47, 48 are fastened to an underside of the panel 30 by screws 49, adhesive, or other means. The supports 46, 47, 48 stiffen the panel 30 to resist vertical loads on the panel 30 and to provide an increased resistance to upward lifting of the panel when locked to the window well 14 as described below. The side supports 47, 48 are channels having an inverted U-shape (FIG. 6). The center support is a channel having a prone C-shape (FIG. 5).

As illustrated in FIGS. 3-6A, a first bracing bracket 50 having an L-shaped cross-section is fastened to the base bracket 38. A second, identical bracing bracket 54 is also fastened to the base bracket 38 facing in an opposite direction. Each bracing bracket 50, 54 includes a vertically oriented leg 56. The leg 56 can be a folded plate to have an increased thickness and includes a threaded hole 60. Alternately, a single thickness leg can be provided having a threaded nut welded thereto, the nut in registry with a hole through the leg 56. A threaded rod or bolt 64 is threaded through the threaded hole 60 with a tool engageable head 66 toward the inside and a protruding end 67 facing outside toward the sidewall 19 of the window well 14.

A base leg 68 of the first and second bracing bracket 50, 54 includes an oblong or slotted hole 72 that receives a fastener 73 to connect the bracing bracket 50 to the base bracket 38. The slotted hole 72 allows for gross adjustment of the bracket 50 position with respect to the base bracket 38 in the direction “A” by loosening, adjusting, and re-tightening the fastener 73.

A third bracing bracket 80 is carried by the center support 46 that extends from the base bracket 38 toward a front edge of the panel 30. The third bracing bracket 80 also has an L-shaped cross-section and a threaded hole 60 through a vertical leg 56 thereof. The third bracing bracket can be identical to the bracing brackets 50, 54. A threaded rod or bolt 86 is threaded through the threaded hole 60. Preferably, the threaded rod or bolt 86 includes a hand operated turning knob 88 for quick and easy turning the bolt 86.

One advantage of the present invention is that the L-shaped base bracket 38 includes an upstanding leg 38 a and a horizontal leg 38 b. The upstanding leg 38 a spaces the panel edge 30 a from the building wall and the horizontal leg 38 b supports the hinges. The panel 30 is pivotable upward from the horizontal leg 38 b toward the upright leg 38 a when the panel is pivoted from a closed position to an open position. In this way, the panel can be easily pivoted upward without interference with the building wall.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 the hinges 44, 46 are door-type hinges that include a first hinge flange 102 fastened to the panel 30 by screws or rivets 104 and a second hinge flange 108 fastened to the bottom leg 38 b of the base bracket 38 by screws or rivets 110. A pin and hinge journal assembly 114 connects the flanges 102, 108 in pivoting fashion.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the third bracing bracket 80 is adjustably connected to the center support by having a fastener 120 located with a fastener head 122 slidably captured within the channel 46. A nut 126 is threaded onto a shank 128 of the fastener 120 and tightened to fixedly set the bracing bracket 80 at a desired position along the center support 46. The head 122 can have flat sides and a size close to the width of the inside of the channel 46 to prevent turning of the head 122 and shank 128 as the nut 126 is turned.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. 

1. A window well cover comprising: a panel sized to substantially cover an open end of the window well and having a first end edge and a second end edge, and opposite side edges; a fixing assembly mounted to said panel adjacent to said first end edge, said fixing assembly comprising a first bracing bracket mounted to said panel adjacent one of said side edges and a second bracing bracket mounted to said panel adjacent said opposite side edge, and a first pressing portion extendable from one of said bracing brackets, said pressing portion being selectively extendable from said bracing bracket to press against an inside of said window well to releasably lock said panel to said window well, and a second pressing portion extending from said other bracing bracket to press against said window well.
 2. The window well cover according to claim 1, comprising a base bracket and a hinge, said hinge secured to said panel, said base bracket secured to said hinge, said bracing bracket secured to said base bracket.
 3. The window well cover according to claim 1, comprising a third bracing bracket secured to said panel adjacent to said second end edge of said panel, said bracing bracket comprising a pressing member selectively extendable from said third bracing bracket to engage said window well.
 4. The window well cover according to claim 1, wherein said third bracket comprises a threaded hole and said third pressing member comprises a threaded member threaded through said threaded hole.
 5. The window well cover according to claim 1, wherein said second pressing member is also selectively extendable.
 6. The window well cover according to claim 1, comprising a support bracket extending from adjacent said first edge to adjacent said second edge, said third bracing bracket mounted on said support bracket.
 7. The window well cover according to claim 1, wherein said one bracing bracket comprises an L-shaped member having a threaded hole, and said pressing member comprises a threaded member, threaded through said threaded hole.
 8. A method of installing a cover on a window well comprising the steps of: providing a panel to cover the top open end of a window well; providing a pair of protrusions mounted to an underside of said panel, said protrusions extending in an outward direction; providing that at least one of said protrusions is selectively extendable and retractable; placing said cover over said top open end of said window well with said protrusions inside said window well; extending said one protrusion to press against an inside surface of said window well to brace said protrusions against said inside surface of said window well.
 9. The method according to claim 8, comprising the further step of extending both said protrusions to brace against said inside surface of said window well.
 10. The method according to claim 9, comprising the further step of providing said protrusions are mounted to a first member of a hinge structure and said panel is mounted to a second member of the hinge structure, said second member hingedly movable with respect to said first member, wherein said panel can be pivoted about said window well after said protrusions are braced against said inside surface of said window well.
 11. The method according to claim 7, comprising the further step of providing a latch on a bottom side of said panel, said latch having a pressing member that can be selectively braced against an inside surface of said window well to prevent pivotal movement of said panel with respect to said window well.
 12. The method according to claim 11, comprising the further step of providing that both said protrusions are adjustably extendable pressing an inside surface of said window well by adjusting both said protrusions.
 13. A window well cover comprising: a panel sized to substantially cover an open end of the window well and having a first end edge and an opposite second end edge, and opposing side edges; a base bracket securable to the window well and a hinge, said hinge secured to said panel along said first edge, said base bracket having an L-shape, said hinge secured to a horizontal leg of said base bracket, said base bracket oriented such that said panel is pivotable upward from said horizontal leg toward said upright leg.
 14. The window well cover according to claim 13, comprising a fixing assembly mounted to said base bracket adjacent to said first end edge, said fixing assembly comprising a first bracing bracket mounted to said base bracket adjacent one of said side edges and a second bracing bracket mounted to said base bracket adjacent said opposite side edge, and a first pressing portion extendable from one of said bracing brackets, said pressing portion being selectively extendable from said bracing bracket to press against an inside of said window well to releasably lock said base bracket to said window well, and a second pressing portion extending from said other bracing bracket to press against said window well.
 15. The window well cover according to claim 14, wherein said second pressing member is also selectively extendable.
 16. The window well cover according to claim 14, comprising a third bracing bracket secured to said panel adjacent to said first edge of said panel, said bracing bracket comprising a pressing member selectively extendable from said third bracing bracket to engage said window well.
 17. The window well cover according to claim 16, comprising a support bracket extending from adjacent said first edge to adjacent said second edge, said third bracing bracket mounted on said support bracket.
 18. The window well cover according to claim 16, wherein said third bracing bracket comprises a threaded hole and said third pressing member comprises a threaded member threaded through said threaded hole.
 19. The window well cover according to claim 13, wherein said one bracing bracket comprises an L-shaped member having a threaded hole, and said pressing member comprises a threaded member, threaded through said threaded hole. 